- Sweden have won three of their last five matches and scored 14 goals in that time.
- Netherlands have been inconsistent, winning two, drawing two and losing one of their last five games, scoring six times.
- Sweden have won one and lost one of their two away games since November.
Dutch can be dynamic if they get going
The Netherlands can be a very good team on their day and their 2-2 draw with Japan is the sort of result that could be achieved if they are on the day. The Dutch were much the better side against Uzbekistan when they won 2-1, but they allowed Algeria to score on the break and go on to win the game 1-0.
Sweden are a more solid side and sit top of Group F after their 5-1 rout of Tunisia while the Dutch are third on one point after their draw with the Samurai Blue. There has been a lot written about Ronald Koeman's tactical flexibility and possession-based systems and, indeed, it is a major part of the make-up of the team.
He has made some tweaks recently to emphasize controlled progression from the back and dynamic wingback overloads. The Netherlands are not the sort of side to rush things but will look to control possession and tempo before accelerating through their midfield connectors and into the channels on either side of the opponent's defence.
Swedes can hit Netherlands on counter-attack
Virgil van Dijk has popped up with two goals in the last five and adds a defensive threat, so the Swedes will be wary of the Liverpool man. There is some real quality in the ranks of Graham Potter's men and the manager has instilled a pragmatic, structure-first approach, but there are no rigid formations. They have been switching between different formations with players able to interchange. The Swedes are very compact in a mid-to-low block out of possession and always ready to counter-attack in a very direct way with passes over the top or down the wing for the mobile front two. Potter has made them more unpredictable and very dangerous in transition, which could be to the Netherlands' detriment in Houston on Saturday. The Group F standings mean both teams will be looking to score at least once, but Sweden's clinical finishing and direct style of play should just see them over the line in the end.
Stick with the value in Swedish victory
The odds of 4.6 for a win still look tempting while Over 2.5 goals at 1.91 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.83 look the best bets from the other markets.
Yasin Ayari is Group F's top scorer with two in one game, but Viktor Gyökeres has been more prolific for Sweden, scoring six goals in the national team's last five in all competitions. Crysencio Summerville is the Netherlands' top scorer in the group with one goal in one, while Ryan Gravenberch is the creator with two assists.
